Post-pandemic, an increasing focus on indoor air quality
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, “fundamental shifts” have taken place in how businesses, governments, scientific and medical communities, and the general public think about indoor air, according to Harvard Chan School’s Joe Allen.
Outfitting school buildings for extreme heat ‘not that hard,’ says expert
Harvard Chan School's Joseph Allen says that retrofitting old school buildings to better handle the realities of extreme heat and other climate change-related issues is "not that hard."
New methodology reveals health, climate impacts of reducing buildings’ energy use
Increasing energy efficiency in buildings can save money—and it can also decrease the carbon emissions and air pollution that lead to climate change and health harms. But the climate and health benefits of reducing buildings’ energy consumption are…
Social media influencers, faculty connect to improve mental health content
Two dozen social media influencers who post regularly on mental health—with a combined audience of 20 million—have been able to connect with Harvard Chan faculty and experts on effective communication as part of the Harvard Chan School Creators…
Op-ed: New standards could greatly improve indoor air
New indoor ventilation targets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as enhanced ventilation standards from an industry group, could help significantly reduce the spread of infectious diseases, according to Harvard Chan School’s Joseph Allen.
Exposure to hormone-disrupting chemical mixtures common among office workers
Office workers in the U.S., the U.K., China, and India were exposed to complex mixtures of chemicals that can disrupt hormonal functions, according to a study that analyzed chemical traces picked up by silicone wristbands worn by the…
Buildings can be both well-ventilated and energy efficient, says expert
It’s possible to design buildings that have better ventilation and that also use less energy, according to Harvard Chan School’s Joseph Allen.
PFAS levels lower in buildings with healthier furnishings
Buildings renovated with healthier furnishings had significantly lower levels of the entire group of per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS)—toxic chemicals linked with many negative health effects—than buildings with conventional furnishings, according to a new study led by Harvard…
Opinion: Changing how buildings use energy can help combat climate change
Shifting buildings away from using dirty fossil fuels and toward using electricity for heating and cooling will be a crucial part of combatting climate change. But decarbonizing buildings would require a whopping increase in demand for renewable energy…
Learning COVID-19’s lessons to prepare for the future
A new Lancet Commission report offers detailed policy recommendations aimed at reducing the dangers of COVID-19, forestalling the next pandemic, and enabling the world to proceed with goals of sustainable development, human rights, and peace.
